Hi evilbunnie, you are right, the whites don't match. The stools are a warmer white. It doesn't bother me too much though as the island is a different white than the cabinets. I am still debating about painting the stools. If I don't I may do a cushion for color, either in an oilcloth or a washable fabric. I like the kath kidson fabrics... I appreciate everyone's responses. Sorry I haven't checked this thread in a while. Please continue to comment if you have any more suggestions/ideas. It really does help.

didn't see this over the weekend but still wanted to add some input. I absolutely LOVE your choices. The granite is perfect and will enhance everything else. Everything looks so nice together.The floor is the only floor. It will give the look and the feel that you want. Your kitchen will look as though it has been used and loved for generations (and I mean that in the most positive way) Totally timeless Regarding the paint. The advice always thrown around when it comes to paint seems to be that 'it is just paint' I used to think that that was strange advice but it is true. it is the easiest thing to change ( of all the other components) as well as easiest to 'trial' Don't be in a rush to make that decision. Get samples to try out on the walls I started with lots of the colour paper things but get a few of your short listed ones. DOn't put the multicoloured sheet up. Cut out the colour you are interested in then move onto actual paint samples depending on your choice you may need to colour the primer and if it still fails, well - you just paint over it!! can't wait to see the finished kitchen

Cocoa Congrats on your land purchase & the about to commence custom home. I have tried to follow the thread - I think right now it is difficult for you & yours to visualize how your family will evolve and the house suit the needs of a growing family. I would imagine that right now you are feeling the excitement of ground breaking and watching your dream home plans to fruition. I would also imagine that you are under pressure from builder & architect, family members, decorators & the likes & all have a "deadline" in mind. That said, for most their homes are the largest investment they will make in their lifetimes. A custom home provides the blank slate to the owners along with the daunting full time task of taking an inspiration to a dream. Hoping that it will reap the return on investment by way of function and resale value. As a veteran mom (7 children, 2 grandchildren) and a renovator type, appreciation of fine homes/architecture and business woman that understands investment. I'll offer my paltry advice for what it is worth to you. - My experience tells me that too frequently in building, renovations people get caught up in a sort of frenzy and have diminished capacities to "see" "the forest for the trees". Many cooks in the kitchen may cloud the issues. Same holds true here on GW. - Personally I like form and function to go hand in hand. I understand choices that drive decisions but there should be long/short term types. For example if in my last renovation I took the children's ages & made decisions based on that, now that they have grown, my choices would be obsolete. - False deadlines - I see this as a real deal breaker. Too often people are sucked into the belief that if they don't sign off on plans by x date they will not be able to build/renovate. Sometimes saying No, is a good thing, a cooling off period - time to focus elsewhere & then come back to the table with a new and refreshed mindset. In this economy if a builder/architect/designer pushes a false deadline there are very competent, sometimes better "games in town" - so I say, let them walk. First I think if you put a separate posting with a different subject you may get more interest - i.e. "Need input on Kitchen layout pics included" will usually generate more. At the risk of offense - albeit none intended - They way I look at it, you are in the design phase & requesting opinions - Far less $$$$$ now to change (as stated above) then to do the change orders or have completion and say "why didn't we do xyz". I am a visual person and I'm trying to get a sense of the external of the home first. I am assuming the garage/courtyard is the front & pool/ac unit is back. That it is one level home on slab? - I still am trying to visualize the style & look of exterior - can you post? Sippimom has brought to light some of the very points I pondered in the overall layout. My thoughts went to babies/toddlers - the difficulty in the current layout, MBR and distance to the bedrooms & having to go through maze almost to get to the baby is not conducive - As they get older, they will want to be close to mommy & daddy - right now it appears their rooms are 50' away - to me that is like being next door. I can't figure out what bathroom I would utilize when I am in the kitchen - to utilize a john seems like a daunting quest - Same holds true for all the main areas of the home with regard to using the "public" john - Living, Dinning, Kitchen, patio Coming in with the kids & groceries - I'll echo what sippi said - I'm guessing I have to go nearly 50' from the car to put the milk away & it is not direct - take into account that jr - has a poopy diaper & his sister is sleeping in her car seat adds several dimension that seem more complicated than need be. My "wish list" - A bigger mud area (I have a tiny one but it is functional) - with this much square footage, a mud area is one of the most utilized rooms in the house & needs to be a work horse - thinks Soccer, hockey, rackets, gloves, balls, backpacks, parkas, keys, cell phone chargers, shoes, jackets - you get the idea - This may start out stark - but as children grow so does their "stuff". In said mud area I would like a public powder room - again, the most utilized bath in the home. "go pee pee before we get in the car and when you come in the door" Hallways or a better flow - not going through one room to get to another. While you may believe this is a non issue - in 20 yrs when you put the 4 sale sign up - you don't want this to bite you. Most people do not want traffic to go through rooms - especially in a high end custom home. Play room/family room - this can be multi functional - Homework, crafts, TV/games - so that the main living area can be clear of "kiddidom" - as children age they will want to be away from the adults & want their own hang out area. If the home is single level - no basement or attic? where are the lawn tools, mower, etc, christmas decorations, patio furnishings, - skis, sleds, bikes, wagons, ride on toys going to be stored. Inside storage - linens, down comforters (don't know what part of country you are in),out of season clothing, baby cribs, high chairs, car seats, pack n play, Ok whew! - Again, I am visual & most interested in seeing the overall function of the home - with the amount of square footage you have here, I think you can tweak the plan to increase the efficiency & function of the home. All the best to you & yours

Oh I know to be careful with the fridge, opening, ty. It will be a full size fridge that I can embed into the wall just enough to keep it from sticking too far into the room yet also not too far to impede the door opening. Unfortunately, that prep sink is for DH. Technically that 2nd fridge, sink wall, with an eye level microwave is for him to make his oatmeal every dang morning! However, I have plenty of time to run that by DH in the future when he is actually interested in talking floor plans again, for now he doesn't want to hear anything about it, he's still too busy working on building the roof. eta: I noticed you dropped my second fridge. If it's not there it has to go next to the stove, it wasn't a mistake that I had 2 in the plan.